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SMM specialist payback calculator: in-house vs agency

Enter the monthly cost of an in-house SMM specialist (salary, taxes, tools) and the cost of an agency handling a comparable workload. The calculator works out the difference.

Salary with taxes and contributions plus tools — excluding ad budget, which is the same in both options

Result

Cost difference

How much cheaper, %

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This calculation is for informational purposes only and does not replace advice from a qualified professional. Formulas and rates may not fit your exact situation — double-check the figures before making decisions.

How it is calculated

Difference = agency cost − in-house specialist cost. How much cheaper, % = difference ÷ more expensive option × 100%. A positive difference means the in-house specialist costs less than the agency.

The comparison only accounts for direct money cost for a comparable workload — it doesn't assess differences in quality, response speed, access to expertise across disciplines (which an agency can offer through its team), or the risk tied to a single in-house specialist leaving.

The ad budget for promoting posts is deliberately left out of this comparison — it's usually the same regardless of who runs the social accounts, and adding it equally to both options wouldn't change the difference between them.

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